Cha Cha Heels

80s dance group Bronski Beat collaborated with Eartha Kitt on this 1989 dance hit 'Cha Cha Heels'. Collaborations between music artistes is a norm but i believe it takes an enigmatic singer and voice to bring the song to a next higher level.



Though i may not know much about Eartha Kitt other than her origins as a 1950s singer, when i first heard her voice on this track, i knew it gave the song a special touch. That slick sensual voice and characteristic growls really added a different dimension to the song. Take a listen to it and download a copy here.

Eartha Kitt died at the age of 81 on Christmas Day in 2008 last year.

' So don't you mess around with me you won't know what to do
Cause I'll put on my cha cha heels and walk all over you '

Looking For Linda

My brother drops by my house probably twice a month nowadays and not as often as he used to do. His constant habit is to sit in front of my computer, logged onto YouTube website and keyed in titles of music videos, mostly of the 80s. I am not complaining but am actually grateful, for at certain times i will be awed to find that long lost forgotten hit, courtesy of my brother's more equipped knowledge of 80s music than me.

So it was in december last year that he came by and played 'Looking For Linda' by 80s band Hue & Cry. Instantly, that catchy chorus hit me the moment it started. It must have been a good 14 or so years back since i last heard it. Cool song, excellent...

Watch the MTV here and enjoy the song.

YouTube is one of the best inventions on the internet for me personally. i recall the days in the early 1990s when i was a student staying up late nights to catch the latest MTV music videos and taping them using a VCR. Those days are long gone and obsolete. At a stroke of a finger and a few words, we could watch watch mostly any music videos, past and present instantly on YouTube. i have since moved on beyond music videos and watched countless documentaries, history channels and education films on various interest on YouTube and allowing me to know and understand the world more intimately. It has deepened my thoughts and enrich my mind for the better.

'Never Stop Looking for Linda...'

I am still looking for mine...

Ozzy the Ironman

I have always been a fan of Ozzy Osbourne. That sinister deep nasal, almost devilish voice gave his songs that extra edge that makes them unforgettable. I first discovered him in the late 80s on the duet ballad with Lita Ford called 'Close My Eyes Forever'. Since then, i have backtracked his catalogue to discover many great tracks, some of my favs such as 'Crazy Train', 'Goodbye To Romance', 'So Tired', 'Road To Nowhere' and 'See You On The Other Side'

Ozzy Osbourne first made his mark with pioneer heavy metal band Black Sabbath in the 1970s before he went solo. One could witness his extraordinary showmanship and stage presence. The original band members of Black Sabbath reunited in 1997 for a concert and released an album of live tracks called 'Reunion.' Check out these tracks played in the concert 'Paranoid', 'Children Of The Grave' and 'Ironman' which was used in the Marvel hit movie of the same name last year in 2008. In a word, it was mind-blowing. Ozzy and his band were in top form, rousing the crowd and spilling out expletives throughout the set.

Ozzy Osbourne has battled drug abuse, alcoholism and all the excesses of rock & roll throughout his life and he is still around today. Beneath that dark persona and insanity, he has a normal family and i believe strongly, a good father as well.

My favourite Ozzy song has got to be 'Dreamer'. Check out an alternative heartwarming MTV of this song here which features him and his family.

Here's to a good 2009 ahead.

Goodbye 2008

In a tumultuous year that was 2008, the world had witnessed an ailing global economy, natural disasters and the rise in terrorism. Here's hoping 2009 will be a much better year.

I had picked one of Styx songs which i felt most befitting to end the year on a good note, and to reflect on the year gone past...

'Show Me The Way'

every night i say a prayer in the hope that there's a heaven
And every day i'm more confused as the saints turn into sinners
All the heroes and legends i knew as a child have fallen to idols of clay
And i feel this empty place inside so afraid that i've lost my faith

Show me the way, show me the way
Take me tonight to the river
And wash my illusions away
Show me the way

And as i slowly drift to sleep, for a moment dreams are sacred
I close my eyes and know there's peace in a world so filled with hatred
That i wake up each morning and turn on the news to find we've so far to go
And i keep on hoping for a sign, so afraid that i just won't know

Show me the way, show me the way
Take me tonight to the mountain
And take my confusion away

And if i see a light, should i believe
Tell me how will i know

Show me the way, show me the way
Take me tonight to the river
And wash my illusions away
Show me the way, show me the way
Give me the strength and the courage
To believe that i'll get there someday
Show me the way

Every night i say a prayer
In the hope that there's a heaven...


In Loving Memory and dedication to Ms Lo Hwei Yen, who lost her life on November 27, 2008 in the terrorist attack in Mumbai, India.

'Last Christmas' : A Second Christmas Blog Post

This is my second Christmas blog post and rightly so, how could i forget about a Christmas record that i suppose almost anyone living through the 80s would replay this (either on their music players or in their heads) on every Christmas for the rest of their lives?

Wham! was a 1980s pop duo group made up of George Michael and Andrew Ridgely, with the former blessing listeners with one of the best and flawless vocals ever, with classics such as 'Careless Whisper', 'Wake Me up Before You Go Go' before embarking on a very successful solo career. His voice is still one of the most impeccable and serene i have ever heard from a male singer.

Ever since 'Last Christmas' hit my ears from as early as 1984 when it was first released, i don't think there is a year since i missed hearing this unforgettable song on every Christmas every year till this day as an adult. It also brings back memories from that first crush in primary school days, relationships past and many memories from yesteryears. i believe it does so for many many people too. If you can't hum the chorus of this song from start to finish, then really you don't belong to the 80s! Watch and relive this Christmas classic on the MTV here.

Enjoy another one of Wham! tracks called 'Heartbeat'. It has that christmas feel too. You can also listen to the song directly here.

And for the second time...wishing all my readers a Merry X'mas wherever you are...

Shine bright for me...this lonely Christmas

I have always love Christmas time though i may not necessary celebrate it. As a kid, i will always look forward to Christmas album or single releases by my favourite bands or singers. Most will release a good single or album to coincide with this period and for the coveted 'Christmas #1 album or single'. Perhaps the most memorable one was 'Do They Know It's Christmas Time' done by Band Aid in 1984. Christmas time feels good as the atmosphere feels lighter, cooler and relaxed as the year comes to a close and ushering in a new year ahead.

There are many great Christmas records released in the years before. Out of so many, it was not difficult to pick my favourite. Erasure released 'Crackers International', an EP (Extended Play) record during Christmas 1988. An EP is somewhere between a single and a full album and usually contains 4-5 tracks lasting about 20 minutes or so. Among the four great tracks on this EP, the last track 'She Won't Be Home' stood out as Christmasy as it could be. Take a listen to it here.

Merry & Blessed Christmas + a good year ahead to all my readers...


'I won't dare to say to you, how much i want to be with you...'

- She Won't Be Home

The Soundtrack Of My Life

Film music or soundtracks as we know form an important part of any film and gives an emotional depth to a movie. There are countless great soundtracks as there are great movies out there but allow me to demonstrate a bit of biasness and sidetrack a little in this post, to pay tribute to the greatest movie i have (and will ever) watched in this lifetime i am very sure.

The Shawshank Redemption is an American film made in 1994. At over 3 and a 1/2 hours long, it was not a hit at the movie screens but made its fame at a most unlikely source - the videotape rental service and the good old word of mouth. I will like to think that this film popularized itself into a modern classic because of the ordinary person watching this movie at the comfort of his home and came away so impressed and goes passing the word around about the film, to the extent that it now ranks #1 at the IMDB (Internet Movie Database) website, and surely in the hearts of those who have watched it, including mine.

This film is a prison movie that revolves around the two main actors - Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman who played the characters Andy Dufresne and 'Red'. It is a quiet movie with many themes of friendship, redemption, faith, morality, courage, corruption and hope. Most of the movie concentrated on the conversations between Andy and 'Red'. While i will not divulge much of the film here, i will strongly recommend for all to go watch the film from start to finish and find out for yourself, and hope that everyone will come away with your hearts touched by it.

On a personal level, this film has been a uplifting catalyst in many disappointing and down moments in my life before. I will replay many memorable scenes and quotes in my mind in the movie whenever i feel discouraged and it always worked for me. The consistent message of hope and never giving up hope throughout the movie just sets my heart alive. Coincidentally, this film seems to follow everywhere i go too. This film 'caught' me on the plane to India last year and most recently in China on a tour, it was played in the hotel tv during a late night.

Back to the music part, Shawshank Redemption's music soundtrack is also one of the best i have heard. Listen to the ending theme and watch a beautiful scene in the movie.

China witnessed one of the most devasting earthquakes this year which occurred on 12 May 2008 in Sichuan province. This powerful quake caused thousands of homes to be destroyed and thousands more lost their lives. On a recent study trip to China in November, i had the chance to visit the earthquake zone, witnessing at first hand the devastation caused - schools, buildings razed to the ground. Scores of banners were everywhere, encouraging the affected people whose homes were destroyed. My heart felt heavy walking through but more than anything, i also saw hope and the strength of the human spirit in the people who were rebuilding their homeland. Left with nothing but only hope in their hearts and it is this hope that will help them overcome in the end, much like anyone of us at some difficult point in our lives. I was reminded of a line Andy Dufresne says somewhere in the movie : "There are places in the world that aren't made out of stone, there is something inside that they can't get to you, they can't touch. It is yours - Hope"

Fear can hold you prisoner but hope can set you free. That's damn right...


"Get busy living or get busy dying..."

"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things and no good thing ever dies..."

- Andy Dufresne














Visit to Sichuan Earthquake Museum in Chengdu. The poignant banner on the ceiling written by affected villagers reads in chinese - 'Bless good people a lifetime of peace'